Disconnect coupling



July 21, 1953 s. H. ANDERSON I DISCONNECT COUPLING Filed Dec. 2'7. 1949 v INVENTdR. ammo/v H. ANDERSON BY A flwbwmiu ATTORNEY Patented July 21, 1953 DISCONNECT COUPLING Gordon H. Anderson, Inglewood, Calif assignor to North American Aviation, Inc.

Application December 27, 1949, Serial No. 135,069

1 Claim. (01. 285-127) The subject invention comprises a variable tolerance disconnect unit. 7

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling means suitable for connecting.

tanks having misaligned openings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a coupling which may be readily utilized in the joining of conduits, fluid conductors, tubing, pipes, and the like.

To facilitate such connection it is another object of the present invention to provide a coupling having means for adjusting the parts thereof longitudinally with respect to each other while accommodating for transverse or angular misalignment of the members to be connected.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide all of the foregoing features by means which are simple to manufacture, quickly installed and adjusted, light in weight, and serviceable in operation.

Other objects of invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a section taken upon the longitudinal axis of the coupling illustrating the concentric assembled relationship of the several parts,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail illustrating the extent of the transverse adjustment, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing a modified form of seal permitting a substantial degree of angular misalignment between the opposite ends of the fitting assembly.

Referring to the arrangement shown in Fig. l the subject coupling comprises a tubular member I having a flangeat 2 for attachment by appropriate means to a tank body or mating flange. The tubular member I is arranged in sliding engagement within a body member 3. The members I and 3 are retained'in assembled relationship by means of a snap ring type of lock indicated at 4, which is installed subsequent to the interfltting of the two aforementioned members. The outer surface of the member I is in contact with a rounded shoulder at the inner edge of the member 3 and an annular ring type seal is provided at 6 to prevent leakage between the members I and 3.. A washer I closely surrounds the outer surface of the member I serving as abacke 2 A flanged face I4 of tubular member I1 in turn engages the faces I I and I2 and by means of a ring nut I5 which threadedly engages the portion I3 serves to compress the seal 6 through the'axial pressure exerted through the members In and. I. The inturned flange I6 of the ring nut I5 engages the flange I4 of the member. I1 and a seal I8 is provided within the portion I3 to seal the surface I2.

Axial adjustment of the unit is accomplished by releasing the clamping pressure of the ring nut I5 which reducesthe pressure on the seal member 6 sufliciently to permit the inner member I to be moved axially to permit longitudinal adjustment. The member I is provided with a pair of lugs 20 which engage slotted portions 2| in the extending sleeve of the member 3 to prevent rotation between these members. Longitudinal adjustment is limited in extension by the lock ring 4 engaging the member In or in contraction by the lug 20 against the member 3. With the length of the unit adjusted the respective elements will beretained'in sealed relationship by tightening the ring nut I5 which compresses the seals sufficiently to prevent leakage.

Misali'gnment transversely between the respective flanges 2 and I9 is readily accommodated as indicated in Fig. 2. By releasinng the clamping plane or any combination thereof. Tightening of the ring nut I5 upon completion of the desired adjustment effects a compression of the seal l8 and through contact with the face II of the member ID serves to secure the previously obtained longitudinal adjustment.

Angular adjustment may also be obtained in the subject arrangement through the ability of the tubular member I to pivot about the rounded shoulder 5 of the'body 3. Thismovement is limited by contact of the inner endof member I with the inner surface 25 of the member I0 and by the ability of the member I to be displaced axially or by the contact of the retainer ring 4 with the under surface 26 of the member I0. A

modified type of seal, as shown in Fig. 3, may be substituted to facilitate the design of the several elements to obtain a maximum degree of misalignment as indicated at 21. This angular misalignment again may be accommodated in either of two planes or any combination thereof.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by Way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by Way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claim.

I claim:

A coupling comprising a first tubular member; an annularbody member around an end portion of said first tubular member, said body member having a rounded inner edge adjacent said first tubular member whereby said tubular member is tiltable about said edge and axially movable relative thereto, said body member having a portion spaced from said tubular member thereby defining a circumferential recess, and further having a flat radial face portion; a second tubular member, said second tubular member having a flat radial end flange adapted to abuttingly engage member; spacer means in said circumferential recess interposed between said second tubular member end flange and said second sealing means for urging said second sealing means against said first tubular member and said body memberwhen said second tubular member is held against said body member flange; and lock means at the end of said first tubular member for preventing removal of said body member therefrom.

GORDON H. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 870,200 Sheckler Nov. 5, 1907 1,319,457 Bogart Oct. 21, 1919 1,632,042 Price et a1 June 14, 1927 1,926,422 Armbruster Sept. 12, 1933 2,318,428 Skinner May 4, 1943 2,422,597 Stewart June 17, 1947 2,432,592 Stecher et a1 Dec. 16, 1947 2,511,495 Crot June 30, 1950 FOREIGN. PATENTS Number Country Date 7 6 4,802 France May 29, 1934 

